The Wander Fund Scholarship

Funded by
$1,000
1 winner$1,000
Open
Application Deadline
Apr 30, 2025
Winners Announced
May 30, 2025
Education Level
High School
Eligibility Requirements
Education Level:
High school senior
School Name:
Ephrata High School
Location:
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

I am not the same having seen the moon shine from the other side of the world.

– Mary Anne Radmacher

The purpose of The Wander Fund Scholarship is to empower an Ephrata High School graduate in their pursuit of life-changing travel experiences. Scholarships valued at $1,000 will be awarded to a graduating senior who demonstrates a passion for travel and the desire to develop a greater understanding of global issues and a deeper appreciation for cultural and ecological diversity. Applicants with financial need will be given preference.

The Wander Fund Scholarship was established by Ephrata Class of ‘03 alumna, Heidi Hynd (née Horst) in honor of her grandparents, John and Carolyn Horst, and her aunt, Sally Wise, to encourage graduating seniors to embrace travel as a means of personal enrichment. All three were avid world-wanderers and deeply passionate about the profound impact travel has on one’s life and understanding of the world.

John Horst retired as an Emeritus Professor from Millersville University and his wife Carolyn was an elementary teacher in Ephrata. Together, they travelled the world for more than 50 years. An Akron native, Sally Wise taught German at Ephrata High School and helped facilitate student exchanges between Ephrata and our sister city, Eberbach Germany, until her passing in 2024.

The Horst and Wise families recognize that travel provides invaluable lessons beyond the classroom, especially for young people from rural areas, by providing unique opportunities to learn and grow, overcome challenges, form lasting relationships and make precious memories.

Any high school senior at Ephrata High School in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, may apply for this scholarship opportunity if they will attend a two or four-year college. 

To apply, tell us how you would use this scholarship award to travel, where you would like to go, whether you’ve traveled before, and what this scholarship would mean to you.

Selection Criteria:
Ambition, Drive, Impact
Published January 22, 2025
Essay Topic

-How would you use the $1,000 scholarship to undertake a transformative travel opportunity?

-Where will your travels take you, when, and why? 

-Have you travelled nationally or internationally before? 

-What would receiving this scholarship mean to you?

400–600 words

FAQ

When is the scholarship application deadline?

The application deadline is Apr 30, 2025. Winners will be announced on May 30, 2025.